James Doohan, best known as Chief Engineer Montgomery “Scotty” Scott in the Star Trek series and movies, was fascinated by space exploration and his final wish was to have his remains launched into space. Space Services Inc. is honoring that wish and blasting Scotty’s remains into the heavens during the second quarter of 2006.

Now that sounds like a really awesome way to be memorialized — much better than being placed in the ground, I would think. But I would also think it’s seriously expensive.

I did some research and found that Space Services Inc. will launch 1 gram of your cremated remains into Earth’s orbit for $995; 7 grams will run you $5,300. But let’s say Earth’s orbit just isn’t far enough. No problem: lunar orbit or landing is a cool $12,500, as is a shot to deep space nine.

I think I can spare a thousand bucks and 1 gram of ashes for a posthumous rocket ride. She wants her rocket ride, she wants her rocket ride…

But why wait till you’re dead to send a piece of yourself into space? You can do it right now! For only $34.95, Beyond-Earth will launch a sample of your DNA into space, then send you a certificate of authenticity upon your DNA’s safe return to Earth. They don?t guarantee the DNA?s safe return, though, and that worries me. I imagine my DNA being used to create Eve clones in a top-secret space experiment. What the world would do with said clones, I’m not sure; maybe repopulate the KISS Army or pack the theaters for Star Wars Episodes 7-9.

Hmm…maybe I’ll keep my DNA to myself. Instead, I’ll go with this really cool freebee: Send Your Name Into Space. It’s probably better than unleashing an Eve Clone Army.